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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Keyboard Commando" data-source="post: 476397" data-attributes="member: 11363">From what I've researched, the Soviets at least were working on various prototypes during the 80s and there is some uncertainty as to what they were actually going to pick for service. Object 195 and Black Eagle were post-Soviet designs so assuming no collapse I think those are out. For them it comes down to Object 477 and Object 299, depending on how well they do economically and how well they do with technology development I think 299 gets the nod despite its gas turbine as it was the basis for an entire family of vehicles like today's Armata which helps with cost and economy of scale. Object 187 as mentioned was at the time a UVZ alternative, improving the T-72 and banking on the conservativeness of the Politburo and Army staff. If they have the money I think 299 and its family of vehicles gets rolled out slowly to frontline units while older T-72s are moved to category B/C units to replace T-55s and T-62s and unifying the fleet, 187 is an interim front-line tank because it is simpler and can be produced and rolled out quicker than the high tech 299 family which will take years to get up to speed and sort out kinks. For the US, I think a derivative of the CATTB becomes the M1A3. New LV100-5 turbine and improved armor, in-arm hydropneumatic suspension, and XM291 ATACS which can have 120 and 140mm barrels. Unless ETC technology gets developed to the point of reliability that the Army will accept, I think the conventional gun is here to stay. The UK had the Evolutionary National Tank on the drawing board in the 90s, and with more advanced Soviet designs coming it more than likely goes forward with Challenger 2 having a short service life like Challenger 1. Germany continues work on the NKPZ which never left the drawing board, France puts the 140mm Leclerc in service, and Sweden without the end of the Cold War likely develops the Strv-2000. Until new gun technology like ETC, liquid propellant, or electromagnetic becomes reliable, western nations likely stick with the conventional 140mm.</blockquote>

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